Apparatus for creating a faux finish

ABSTRACT

This invention is an apparatus and method of making the apparatus, for creating a faux finish on a paintable surface. The apparatus includes a polyvinyl alcohol block having first and second ends, and a longitudinal body extending between the first and second ends. The body also includes at least one planar painting surface and a beveled surface located adjacent the first end of the body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application listed below is the only application related to this application. This application is a continuation-in-part of Utility Patent application No. 10/103168 filed on Mar. 20, 2002.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP

No invention claimed in this application was made under Federally sponsored research or development.

SPECIFICATION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for creating a faux finish on a surface and the method of making said apparatus. One example embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for creating a faux finish on a surface. The apparatus includes a polyvinyl alcohol block. One example of the method of making the apparatus includes presoaking the polyvinyl alcohol block in a solution of water and Latex Polyurethane.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Faux finish is a particular form of decorative painting that creates the appearance of an artistic effect or appearance on a paintable surface. Typically, a person employing skilled and artistic decorative techniques creates faux finishes. These techniques are used to replicate many natural surfaces, such as rock, marble, or stucco. Creation of faux finishes is desirable because use of the natural materials that are being simulated by the faux finish is costly and can be difficult to manufacture or install with natural materials. For example, it is usually not cost-effective to use natural materials on an irregularly shaped surface. Utilizing a faux finish overcomes these problems and also permits utilizing non-traditional colors that coordinate with other interior elements.

Traditional faux finish techniques require a variety of specialized materials, such as paints, solvents, coloring agents, brushes, and sponges. Traditional processes are time consuming and generally require a high degree of skill to create a variety of faux finishes. Also, the typical equipment can be difficult to work with, and its use time consuming. Set-up for using traditional faux finish equipment and techniques is also time consuming because generally the edge and surrounding areas must be covered with a masking material to keep paint from being applied to the masked areas. Therefore improvements are desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One example embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for creating a faux finish on a surface. The apparatus includes a polyvinyl alcohol block. The polyvinyl block includes a first end, a second end and a longitudinal body extending between the first and second ends. The body includes at least one planar painting surface. The apparatus further includes a beveled surface located adjacent the first end of the body.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for creating a faux finish on a surface. The method includes a step of providing a polyvinyl alcohol block having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal body extending between the first and second ends, the body including at least one planar painting surface, and the block further including a first beveled surface located adjacent the first end of the body. The method further includes the steps of applying paint to the surface with a paint applicator, and creating a desired faux finish effect by manipulating the painting surface against the surface.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for painting. The method includes the steps of applying a paint to a work surface, contacting a polyvinyl alcohol painting surface against the work surface, manipulating the paint on the work surface with the polyvinyl alcohol block, and creating a decorative painting effect. The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments, to which the invention is not so limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a painting apparatus.

FIG. 2A is perspective view of a paint applicator from the front side.

FIG. 2B is perspective view of the paint applicator of FIG. 2A from the reverse side.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of colors being applied to a paintable surface using the paint applicator of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the painting apparatus of FIG. 1 being manipulated to create a faux finish.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the painting apparatus of FIG. 1 being used to paint a wall without masking an adjacent ceiling.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the painting apparatus of FIG. 1 being used to paint a wall without masking an object adjacent to the painted area.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is applicable to painting. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus, and a method for making said apparatus, for creating faux finishes on paintable or painted surfaces. While the present invention is not so limited, an appreciation of various aspects of the invention will be gained through a discussion of the examples provided below.

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an example embodiment of a painting apparatus 100 of the present invention. Painting apparatus 100 is a polyvinyl alcohol block 110 including first and second ends 112, 114. A longitudinal body 116 extends between first and second ends 112, 114. The body 116 includes at least one planar painting surface 118. The block 110 further includes a first beveled surface 120 located at the first end 112 and a second beveled surface 122 located at the second end 114. While the example embodiment shown includes two beveled surfaces, only one beveled surface is required. The painting apparatus 100 also includes a detailing edge 124 formed by the intersection of the planar painting surface 118 and the first beveled surfaced 120.

The block is made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which unexpectedly has been found to have excellent release and retention characteristics that make the material particularly useful for faux finish painting. PVA is available in stock form from a variety of manufacturers, including Harvard International. The stock form is generally in the shape of an elongated block, and the beveled surfaces 120, 122 of the present invention can be made by cutting or sawing the stock form into the desired shape of the present invention. In the example embodiment shown, the block has a square cross-sectional shape. Other cross-sectional shapes can be used, for example a triangle or rectangle, depending on the conditions and surroundings of the surface to be painted.

The block made from polyvinyl alcohol does not perform well as sold for its intended purpose as a drying tool. However, soaking the PVA block in a solution of 4 parts water and 1 part Latex Polyurethane for a period of at least twenty-four hours provides the desired balance between retention and release characteristics required for efficient faux finish work.

Other formulae were tested to determine if other soaking solutions would produce the desired change in the PVA block. New PVA Blocks were soaked in several solutions for a period of 24 hours. Those solutions were a 4 to 1 ratio of Water to the following additives:

-   -   #1 Flat Latex Paint     -   #2 Semi-Gloss Latex Paint     -   #3 Dull Finish Latex Polyurethane

In addition, a control PVA Block (#4) was soaked in a solution of Water ONLY. After soaking, each Block was tested by using it to perform the exact same finish with the exact same formula on exactly the same surface. Block #1 performed no better or worse than previously tested traditional industry tools. Block #2 performed slightly better than #1, but with much less quality than Blocks we have been using constantly in the performance of our designs. Block #3 performed to the EXACT standards we have come to expect from the blocks currently in use (except for the lines caused by the sharp edges). Control Block #4 performed much the same as Block #1.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the beveled surface 120 allows the painting surface 118 to be used to create a faux finish on a paintable surface 210 to be painted without the use of masking materials because the beveled surface 120 allows the beveled edge 120 of the painting surface 118 to come into proximity to an edge 220 of the paintable surface 210 without contacting any surrounding surface 240 or object 230. Eliminating or reducing the need for masking saves time in the faux finish painting process.

In many envisioned embodiments the PVA block includes a number of planar surfaces which intersect forming edges. It was expected that such edges would provide for crisp boundaries where paint application would terminate because the block's direction of motion was changed. This feature is not an advantage when applying faux finishes. It is desirable to blend the edge of one painted area into the next as the finish is applied, in sections, to an area much larger then each individual application section. To facilitate this blending operation the said edges of the block were rounded. Said edges should be rounded to a radius of approximately 1 eighth of an inch for satisfactory blending characteristics. However, it is envisioned that a large range of radii may be chosen and even edges with non uniform rounding may be satisfactorily employed. In PVA blocks with multiple edges different rounding characteristics may be applied to different edges.

The bevel angle 126 is preferably between 15 and 60 degrees, but one of skill in the art will recognize that the bevel angle can be varied to accommodate the surrounding areas 240 and objects 230 while eliminating or reducing the need for masking. In one preferred embodiment, the beveled surface 120 is oriented at a bevel angle 126 of about 25 degrees with respect to the planar painting surface 118.

The painting apparatus 100 can be used to create a variety of faux finishes 200. Before the faux finish 200 is created, one or more colors of paint 301 are applied to the surface 210 or wall to be painted. If only a single color is to be applied, any convenient method of application can be used, including using a paint applicator such as a brush or a sponge. If it is desired to apply multiple colors, for example, to be blended or textured together, the preferred paint applicator is a mitt 300, FIGS. 2A and 2B. When using the mitt 300 to apply one or more colors, the desired color or colors of paint are applied to different areas of the mitt 300. For example, up to eight different colors can be blended on the surface 210 or wall using different areas of the mitt 300; the heel 312 of the hand, finger tip area 314, middle 316, and side 318 on the palm side 310 of the mitt 300, and the heel of the hand 322, finger tip area 324, middle 326, and side 328 on the reverse side 320 of the mitt 300. Some care should be exercised to prevent color blending on the mitt 300, unless this is a desired result, as the colors of paint are dabbed from the mitt 300 onto the surface 210 or wall 310 in an approximate 12-inch by 12-inch area.

Referring to FIG. 4, to create a desired faux 200 finish effect, the painting apparatus 100 is lightly pressed in the middle 305 or other accessible portion, as circumstances may dictate, of the dabbed area 303 and then moved in a large, circular motion (similar to polishing the surface), until the colors of paint are blended and spread out to cover an area of approximately 2-foot by 2-foot, leaving the edge of the area feathered. One advantage of this method is that each area covered with paint can be done in a very short time. The preceding steps are repeated in another area until the entire surface to be painted is covered. An advantage of using the painting apparatus of the present invention is that creating a faux finish 200 on an 8-foot by 10-foot wall requires substantially less paint than existing faux finishing tools and methods.

Using the above described apparatus and method, a variety of faux finishes can be created. Soaking or otherwise hydrating the painting apparatus 100 in water, a solution of water and paint, a solution of water and polyurethane, or any equivalent solution for re-hydration, so that it retains water while being used to create faux effects enables the effects described below. The present disclosure can be used with a variety of paints, including aqueous paints, latex based paints, or oil based paints. When used with oil based paints the painting apparatus 100 should be soaked or hydrated using paint thinner, extender or other equivalent solution. When using a latex paint, the present disclosure is specially effective in blending multiple colors into a thin consistent layer on flat surfaces.

Examples of some of the faux finishes that can be accomplished using only the painting apparatus 100 and the paint applicator are hereinafter described. Various types of decorative painting for flat walls can be accomplished. To create a one layer, single color blended finish about 3 or 4 spots of one color of paint from the paint applicator are dabbed on the wall. The painting apparatus is wicked and blending starts in the middle of the paint spots that are then blended softly outward to feathered edges.

To create a suede finish, the same procedure as one layer, single color blend is carried out. However, a base background paint of a medium tone, natural color is applied to the surface. A finish color that is one shade lighter than the base color is used, and is blended sufficiently to allow a portion of the base color to show through. A leather finish can be created using the same technique as the suede finish, except the finish color used is one shade darker than the base color.

To create a one layer, multiple color blend, about 1 or 2 spots of each color of paint from the paint applicator (from 2 to 10 colors) are dabbed on the wall. The painting apparatus is wicked and blending begins in the middle of the paint spots, that are then blended softly outward to feathered edges. To create a two layer, single color blend, that adds more dimension and depth, the same technique as the one layer, single color blend is used, and in addition, when the first layer is dried, a second layer of a different color is added.

To create a stone finish, the same procedure as one layer, single color blend is used, except the background finish is white or cream color. To enhance the stone finish, about 3 neutral or natural colors are used for the finish. To create a marble finish, the same procedure as the stone finish is used. After the stone finish dries, the detailing edge of the beveled surface of the painting apparatus is dipped in one of the colors on the painting applicator, that is then used to create veining in the marble. Less pressure on the detailing edge produces a thinner line, and more pressure on the detailing edge widens the veining line. The painting apparatus is then used to softly blend the veins. Endless varieties of other faux finishes can be accomplished using the present disclosure. For example, one of skill in the art will recognize that using a combination of the above techniques allows one to create aging and darkening finishes, a sky and clouds finish, a two layer metallic finish, and a multiple layer finish. An advantage of the present disclosure is that adjustment layers can be easily applied. Since paint coloration is difficult for most people to do with accuracy and precision, the painting apparatus makes application of an adjustment layer easy because of the ability of painting apparatus to produce an almost transparent layer, thereby making color adjustment easier by the addition of a second layer.

The painting apparatus can also be used for decorative painting for textured finishes. The painting apparatus enables the user to accomplish additive and subtractive techniques at the same time on textured surfaces. The detailing edge of the painting apparatus can be used to push paint into crevices at the same time the painting surface or beveled surface removes paint from the top of the texture to create the appearance of depth. Also, the painting surface of the painting apparatus can be used to apply paint to only the top of the textured surface without tracking paint into the crevices, which also adds depth.

A textured finish includes any paintable surface where a first part of the surface is raised, and a second part of the surfaces has crevices. Examples of textured finishes are wood or plastic that includes carvings or impressions, raised wood grain in wood, scrunched paper bags glued to the wall, wicker, plaster, sheet rock, mud or cement with impressions, frieses, paintable moldings, sculptured murals, stones and bricks. Fresco and Venetian plaster finishes can also be created using the present disclosure. To create fresco and Venetian plaster effects, after plaster or sheetrock mud has dried it is re-wetted with the painting surface of a water saturated painting apparatus. Paint colors are then applied from a clean paint applicator to the wetted plaster or mud area. The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the instant specification. 

1) An apparatus for creating a faux finish on a surface comprising: a polyvinyl alcohol block including: (a) a first end; (b) a second end; (c) a longitudinal body extending between the first and second ends, said body including at least one planar painting surface; and a first beveled surface located at the first end of the body. 2) The apparatus of claim 1 further including a second beveled surface located adjacent the second end of the body. 3) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a cross-section of the longitudinal body is a square. 4) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one planar surface intersects a second planar surface forming and edge, said edge being rounded over. 5) The apparatus of claim 4 further including a second beveled surface located adjacent the second end of the body. 6) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a cross-section of the longitudinal body is a square. 7) A method of making an apparatus for creating a faux finish comprising: (a) shaping a block of polyvinyl alcohol to a desired shape, (b) soaking said block of polyvinyl alcohol for at least 24 hours in a solution comprising water and Latex Polyurethane. 8) The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of rounding at least one edge of said block of polyvinyl alcohol. 